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"The Grow DeSoto Market Place is a prime retail space for small entrepreneurs. To complement our offerings to the public, we are including crafts to enhance the public's gift buying experience. We are looking for hand made crafts that fit the season for gifts."December 08, 2018 10:00AM - 6:00PM324 E. Belt Line RdDeSoto, TX 75115They are accepting Handmade Items Only. Booths are 6ft tables and cost $40.Applications are available here and are due by December 05, 2018. For more information, visit their website or contact their event coordinator at terry.toomey@theindustryhub.org / cell 972-750-9315.

Help spread the word, tell them DFW Craft Shows sent ya!
Looking for your own Event Listing? You can submit show information online here.

DFW Craft Shows is a free service provided to help unite our arts & crafts community. Due to the sheer number of event submissions, DFW Craft Shows is unable to verify all event information and encourages vendors to confirm information for their potential shows.

First Presbyterian Church of Mesquite Christmas Bazaar
"The FPC Women's Retreat Committee is proud to present the 8th Annual Christmas Bazaar. Holiday shopping could not be any easier featuring handmade items, jewelry, fresh crop pecans, special gifts and our ever-popular baked goods. Get ready to shop till you drop!""

December 01, 2018
9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M

First Presbyterian Church of Mesquite
1028 S. Belt Line Road
Mesquite, Texas 75149(south end of church)

Olde Town Christmas Craft Fair
"Join us for our Annual Christmas Craft Fair at Dottie Lynn Recreation Center. It will be a festive time filled with shopping, goodies and more! Saturday, December 1 will include a performance from Arlington High School Show Choir and a special visit from Santa Claus. Admission is FREE."

"Two huge rooms of vendors with unique items in a family friendly atmosphere. Great items for Christmas gifts and all-occasion. Hot breakfast and lunch available for purchase. Raffles held throughout each day on vendor donations. Santa will be here, 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 1st."

"Come enjoy festive food and over 100 handmade craft and fine art booths. Shop for Christmas and enjoy the sounds of the season and the reading of the Night Before Christmas and Tree Lighting. Vendors requested for the Wylie Art Festival. Handcrafted items only."

"Join us for all your last minute Christmas shopping! It will be a festive, holiday experience! There will be vendors, holiday music, 1000s of unique items perfect for holiday gifts, drawings and prizes! Admission is $5 per adult and kids 12 and under are FREE!"

For more information, visit their website or contact their event coordinator at cieventsandproduction@gmail.com.

Help spread the word, tell them DFW Craft Shows sent ya!
Looking for your own Event Listing? You can submit show information online here.

DFW Craft Shows is a free service provided to help unite our arts & crafts community. Due to the sheer number of event submissions, DFW Craft Shows is unable to verify all event information and encourages vendors to confirm information for their potential shows.

For more information, visit their website or contact their event coordinator at FvilleCraftFair@gmail.com.

Help spread the word, tell them DFW Craft Shows sent ya!
Looking for your own Event Listing? You can submit show information online here.

DFW Craft Shows is a free service provided to help unite our arts & crafts community. Due to the sheer number of event submissions, DFW Craft Shows is unable to verify all event information and encourages vendors to confirm information for their potential shows.

"The Peddler Show returns to Harris County December 7th – 9th for a unique holiday shopping experience! You can shop from talented designers, artisans, creators and craftsmen from all over the country! Now is the time to shop for all of those items on your holiday shopping list! With customization and personalization onsite, you will find anything and everything you are looking for at The Perfect Street of Shops. It’s THE Texas Shopping Tradition…It’s The Peddler Show in Pasadena!"

For more information, visit their website or contact their event coordinator at angela1731@aol.com.

Help spread the word, tell them DFW Craft Shows sent ya!
Looking for your own Event Listing? You can submit show information online here.

DFW Craft Shows is a free service provided to help unite our arts & crafts community. Due to the sheer number of event submissions, DFW Craft Shows is unable to verify all event information and encourages vendors to confirm information for their potential shows.

Craft, Art, & More Fair
"The public is invited to enjoy a shopping experience that requires no entrance fee! This event is in an indoor facility, so don't let the weather affect your hunt for special treasures for yourself, friends, & family."

November 23, 2018
10:00AM - 3:00PM

St. Frances Cabrini Church
2301 Acton Hwy
Granbury, TX 76049

Home for the Holidays Craft and Car Show
"Home for the Holidays Craft and Car Show brings together craft and gift vendors who provide shoppers with a blend of traditional and one-of-a-kind gift ideas for Christmas. We also have a car show that highlights classic cars and motorcycles."

November 24, 2018
9:00AM - 3:00PM

First Baptist Church of Frisco
7901 Main St.,
Frisco TX

Handmade & Vintage.

The Peddler Show
"The Peddler Show comes to the Texas Hill Country for the 41st year in a row November 23rd-25th for a Thanksgiving weekend shopping experience! Talented designers, artisans, creators and craftsmen come from all over the country, and you can shop until you drop! With three buildings full of Peddlers, you are guaranteed to find anything and everything you are looking for to prepare for the holidays. You can even find gifts that can be customized and personalized onsite! It’s THE Texas Shopping Tradition… It’s The Peddler Show in Fredericksburg!"

Know of an event we are missing? Submit it online here for future events, or, if it's for this weekend, email us at dfwcraftshows(at)gmail(dot)com with the subject "Weekend Event" to discuss a listing upgrade starting at just $10!

DFW Craft Shows is a free service provided to help unite our arts & crafts community. Due to the sheer number of event submissions, DFW Craft Shows is unable to verify all event information and encourages shoppers to confirm information before attending.Shopping bag photo provided by Freepik.com.

As an avid crafter, I feel like I have dabbled in a little bit of almost everything. Crafting is a way to express myself, exercise the left side of my brain, and just step outside the rigorous rules and restraints of my daily routine. Nothing makes me happier, and when I'm done I just feel such a sense of pride and accomplishment. You know, unless the whole project fails, in which case... I'm just gonna need a minute. Ahem.

So, I suppose it makes sense that my three favorite things to gift to others are: gifts handmade by me, gifts handmade by another talented artist, and gifts that allow folks to experience the joy and pride that come from unleashing your creativity. That is why I am so excited to share today's post with you guys... a comprehensive collection of crafting kits and creative gift suggestions, all categorized by age group! Just FYI some of these groups overlap a little, so if you don't feel like you're seeing the skill level you were looking for, try the previous/next age group! Go ahead, click the age range you're interested in and off you go! (Or you can skip straight to shopping my FULL Idea Lists on Amazon here.)

Wait... is your cart still as empty as your cold black heart? Then perhaps you are shopping for an entirely different reason. Maybe you are looking for the perfect kid gift to bring to that party you don’t want to go to hosted by that frenemy that is more “nemy” than “fre,” in which case, these lists are just not going to do it. What you need is our Gift Guide for the Children of your Enemies. Ah, there that’s better, innit? Well, I do aim to please.

Links included above are affiliate links and may support DFWCS at no additional cost to you. DFWCS participates in the Amazon affiliate program, but DFWCS is in no way associated with Amazon or the items above. The opinions stated above are my own, and I have not received any sponsorship or free products from the aforementioned manufacturers.

The first guide in our Complete Crafty Gift Guides for Everyone Series is geared toward young children; whether they are too young for standard art activities, have allergies prohibiting conventional art supplies, or maybe you’re just looking for low(er) mess or travel friendly gifts to feed the creative mind. These aren't your typical arts activities, but they tap into the creative mind and encourage lots of open ended play. And one of the things I love most about imaginative gifts is their longevity! We have a great many of these toys that are still adored by my 6 year old, and, of course, bring much joy to my 17 month old. My favorite items are the ones they can play together! (Is there anything sweeter?) I have a LOT of product suggestions, and there is no way I can cover them all here, so be sure to check out the full list too! If you are looking for more conventional arts & crafts gifts for young ones (crayons, markers, etc), I have added many gift ideas to a separate list that you can find at the bottom of this article.

Melissa and Doug's Water Wows have almost single-handedly provided peace and entertainment for our family for over 5 years. From car rides to restaurants, doctor appointments to weddings, and everything in between, I RARELY leave home without these reusable, resilient gems. They cover a range of skill sets and creative exercises that my kids have loved pretty much from 1.5 to 6+. We own every. single. one... or so I thought! But kids never stop, and neither does Melissa & Doug. They have come out with awesome NEW Water Wows for older kids, and I am STOKED. These new products feature animal mismatch flip books, connect the dots, mazes, and deluxe versions complete with a red lens for a whole new level of play! This is in addition to their ever popular writing pads for letters and numbers. Are they all in my cart now? Yeeeep. And you can get carried away browsing the complete collection of Water Wows here.

While we are talking about writing pads, I want to take a minute to talk about light pads. First, the Boogie BoardLCD eWriter. It may seem simple, but well constructed and a literal blank slate for hours of fun. We take turns drawing pictures, playing charades, building graphic stories, playing tic tac toe, practicing letters, writing words, and more! The boogie board takes up very little space and is great for travel. I even used the included magnets to attach one to my fridge as a mess free alternative to dry erase. They have pads with a larger stylus for little ones, the pad pictured here, and even a newer version with replaceable batteries. FWIW, we have had the pictured version for years and the battery is still going. Also worth mentioning, Boogie Board also offers tracing pads both for younger and older kids, and Crayola offers this awesome My First Touch Lights Pad for the tiniest of toddlers.

Magnets. If you had told me that a lot of my child’s early creative play would be facilities by magnets, I’m not sure I would have believed you. But it’s true! From magnet dolls to magnetic activity boards and magnetic blocks, there is so much open-ended play to be found! And sure, magnets aren’t exactly what you think of when it comes to crafting, but there is a lot of imagination going into this creative play and it's an especially wonderful tool when you’re navigating food allergies and limited on more conventional supplies.

When considering magnetic construction, there are a LOT of options available (Magnatiles, Magformers, Tegu, just to name a few), and they are ALL fun. But my personal favorite are the Magnatiles. Not only are these great from a construction standpoint, they come in a lot of different designs (including glow in the dark!), and their translucent colors are perfect for incorporating into light tables and light play. We have one large box of them and have gotten so much mileage for both kids. It's easily one of those toys that you want to buy more of just for yourself.

Mess Free Glitter. I know you just reached up to slap me across the face for even saying it, but IT IS A REAL THING, so stand down! My daughter has a blast designing these stickers. She uses them to decorate art projects, cards, gifts, and, you know, our Kleenex boxes. The Christmas ones are a fun holiday activity that they can then use to put an extra special touch on presents. Pair it with some kraft wrapping paper and BAM! personalized DIY gift wrap.

When your child is ready for some beginning level crafting, these books are the perfect way to start developing basic skills such as cutting, pasting, tracing, taping and more! The Kumon Let’s Cut Paper Series was my daughter’s all time favorite with lots of fun designs and simple activities that are perfect for self confidence building. She was SO proud of herself and it really sparked endless creativity. The First Steps Series features various difficulty levels for each skill set (cutting, pasting, tracing, drawing, etc) so they can level up and find new ways to use theirs crafting tools.

When they are ready to focus on placement and precision, these first sticker books are a lot of fun. The My First Stickers by Numbers Book is solely sticker matching and making pictures, whereas My Super Duper Coloring Activity Book has coloring pages with one or two stickers to be found and matched up. These are all great skills they can start implementing with any kind of crafts. You’re laying the foundation of all future crafting here!

And lastly, that brings me to the arts & crafts kits to set their imaginations free! It is not hard to find a good crafting kit, but it can be hard to find one that doesn't include crayons, markers, paint, etc, which can all contain common allergens and are just plain difficult to use with littles who are still mouthing everything. These crafting kits are full of fun without the conventional art supplies. Having said that, I do feel obligated to mention that most of these kits do involve some kind of adhesive, whether it be glue or tape. (Featured: My Pom Pom Pets by Klutz, Pops Craft and Paper Tube Ocean by Alex)

You can find all these kits, everything else in this article with many more varieties and themes, and SO MANY MORE gift ideas (lacing beads, shrinky dinks, jewelry kits, sticker pads, terrariums, and more) by clicking the FULL Kids & Allergy Friendly Liston Amazon below!

Links included above are affiliate links and may support DFWCS at no additional cost to you. DFWCS participates in the Amazon affiliate program, but DFWCS is in no way associated with Amazon or the items above. The opinions stated above are my own, and I have not received any sponsorship or free products from the aforementioned manufacturers.

The next guide in our Complete Crafty Gift Guides for Everyone Series is for the Tweens and Teens. Around 7 years old or so, the heavenly gates of crafting start to open up with endless possibilities to master more in-depth, complex skill sets and longer term projects. I LOVE this age range because there is such a huge potential for cute, creative gifts as both individual crafts and collaborative projects to bond over. I still have vivid memories of sitting in the floor at my mom's feet, practicing my hand stitching, pulling sewing tools out of an old metal tin that was probably older than both of us combined. I have a LOT of product suggestions for this age range especially, and there is no way I can cover them all here, so be sure to check out the full list too!

Sew, let's start with sewing. There are tons of really neat beginners sewing kits available for this age range, and one of my favorites is made by American Girl. The animal kits they offer are just straight up adorable, and the girls have LOVED making little baby animals to go with the mom or dad. Next up, another big favorite of mine: sewing food. I don't know why food characters are so cute, y'all. They. just. are. This Sew Mini Treats Kit is straight up adorable and sure to be loved, and The Little Monsters Kit by Craftster's is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Lastly. this Sewing Kit by Artika is BIG! It includes everything you need to make animals, scenery, etc with felt, thread, needles, buttons, pins, stencils and more. It's a fantastic start into sewing and a great way to ease into working with patterns, which... confession time... is something I still get anxious about. Ha!

When they are ready to put down the needle and pick up their very own machine, may I suggest the Brother XM2701? It's a great little starter machine (and also fantastic for small spaces and travel)! If you want a standard size machine with more stitches and an optional extension for quilting, the Brother CS6000i is a great investment. Yes, you can find cheap machines at your big box store, but just know that some of those machines are manufactured in a way to lower the price point, and yeah... you're going to see that yourself sooner than later.

Though some wood crafts will still require a fair dose of adult supervision or assistance, there is a lot of fun to be had with a variety of projects at this age. Beginners projects will include larger pieces, simpler construction, and lots of fun decorating--just like this Wooden Owl Wind Chime or this Wooden Rocket Kit. There are many kits that focus a little more on construction and tool practice like DIY bird houses or race cars. And, honestly, making peg people is still one of my favorite crafts to do. These neat little Peg People Kits by Seedling have everything you need to unleash your imagination, or you can create your own peg people party with a nice set of blanks and whatever crafting supplies you want to bring to the table. Much like the rest of us, peg people come in different shapes and sizes, and as an added bonus, I think they are super fun to sew tiny clothes for. When you are ready for some more complicated construction and creative fun, this Flower Pot comes in several designs and is guaranteed to get an instant "awwwww!" And this Robot Music Box / Wooden Puzzle is instantly impressive on a whole other level. There are a ton of different projects in their project line and they are all equally amazing.

Paper crafting. There is so much, so let's just dive right in. This Ultimate Scrapbook Kit is a great all-in-one starter kit with everything you need to create a 40 page, hardback scrapbook.

If you are more into folding paper than you are decorating it, this Paper Craft Dinosaurs Kit is perfect for beginners. For a more challenging project, you've got to check out The Star Wars Folded Flyers book. It comes with 40 sheets of custom designed paper, folding instructions, tape, and stands to make and display your very own Star Wars fleet. Come to the flip side and fold, Luke!

For the young artist in your life, I present to you the The Super Hero Comic Kit. It's the perfect canvas for that budding illustrator / writer.

Ready to roll? The World of Paper Quilling offers tons of supplies to get you started. It is amazing the kinds of things that you can make with just a tiny roll of paper. Tip: create your own quilling strips together with the hand crank paper shredder! We love ours.

And make sure you save all your scraps to create custom recycled paper beads for your next project. It's the ciirrrcclllleee of crrrraaafffttt.

And so we continue on to the wonderful world of clay. But we are way beyond your little sister/brother's play doh, folks. You've now hit the perfect age for their very own pottery wheel and first experiences throwing clay. This Pottery Studio by Faber-Castell has everything they need to get started--it even includes an apron and a table cover (parents everyone rejoice!).

If you're more into scuplting, Circuit Clay by Klutz is a full kit complete with circuits, LEDs, and battery packs to make your creations light up. Art and science, ftw! Featuring one of my favorite combos, Clay Charms is a kit that will teach you how to make a number of clay minis including... (drum roll) tiny adorable food! And lastly, this Clay Dinosaurs Kit is the backbone of clay dinosaurs... literally. This kit allows you to bring dinosaur fossils to life by covering them with your own creativity and clay.

Admittedly, I have never seen someone Do Art Coloring with Clay, but this kit makes it look like so much fun! It includes 4 design boards, soft clay that won't dry out, and easel backs to display your hand work.

Ugh, y'all, there is just SO much I want to show you and talk about for this age group, but I'm running out of space and time! We haven't even touched on the other fiber arts, slime making, string art, general arts and craft kits and supplies, sand art, jewelry... the list goes on and on, but I have included it ALL on my FULL Tweens and Teens Liston Amazon, so please check it out! I'll be updating it with even more ideas as we go!

I tried to cover a full range of more involved crafting here, but be sure to check out the Kids and/or Young Adult + guides if you feel like your skill sets didn’t quite match up. There are a lot of similar projects sorted per skill level in both guides so you can keep encouraging creativity and healthy challenge! There's also a great Books for Crafting and Creativity Listto supplement your craft gift with.

Links included above are affiliate links and may support DFWCS at no additional cost to you. DFWCS participates in the Amazon affiliate program, but DFWCS is in no way associated with Amazon or the items above. The opinions stated above are my own, and I have not received any sponsorship or free products from the aforementioned manufacturers.

The final age range in our Complete Crafty Gift Guides for Everyone Series is Young Adults and Beyond! This age range is where I really started getting my feet wet in the various craft sciences. There are so many amazing kits and resources out there to serve as a tasting platter of creativity. I used to always find myself wanting to try something new, but having no idea where to start or what to buy. That’s where are all these fun “supplies included” gifts come into play... try it before you go all in. You’re giving the gift of variety, self discovery, and a healthy dose of challenge. When you step outside your comfort zone you stand to discover a whole new world! This is obviously our biggest age range yet, so I am going to try to cover kits for fun smaller projects and tech for those crafting veterans who are ready to take things to the next level. Mmm... delicious. Let's begin.

Needle felting. This is one of those hobbies that is high on my hobby wish list. I have always wanted to try it, but I haven't taken the leap just yet because I am still recovering from pregnancy/mommy brain. (You do recover eventually.... right?) I have, however, gifted several small sets to friends and needle felted vicariously through them. These Artec360 Kits are particularly squee-inducing and surely worth a gander. From their beginners line, this Cactus / Succulents Kit is adorable and every fairy's dream garden, but wait until you see this Stretching Kitten or the Swinging Rabbit. I mean, I can't even. Their full line is here, and it includes Christmas crafts! You can also snag this awesome Needle Felting Starter Kit by Woolbuddy which features a ton of supplies and step by step instructions for a variety of projects.

Let's take a food break, eh? Because being creative isn't limited to just the crafting room, sometimes crafting is all about making noms. With that in mind, here are a few fun DIY kits that would make excellent gifts for that kitchen creative person in your life. First (and most importantly): this DIY Chocolate and Candy Making Kit by Grow and Make looks delicious. If you are not into sweets, then maybe their Artisan DIY BBQ Sauce Kit is right up your alley. Depending on what direction your love of spice goes, DIY Gift Kits offers this Hot Sauce Kit, whereas Solstice Tea Traders has a DIY Tea Sampler Kit to help you find your perfect custom blend. (Psst... if you're 21+, there are even gin, spirits, and beer kits worth taking a look at.)

Hand Lettering, Adult Coloring Books, Brush Tip Pens--oh my! Have you ever watched those hypnotizing videos of people mastering hand lettering and making it look easy peasy lemon squeezey? Hand Lettering is super popular, and there are lots of fun kits and amazing pens to help you on your way to gorgeous personalized art. This Hand Lettering Kit by Wildflower Art Studio has everything you need to get started including a watercolor set, paintbrush, chalk lettering supplies, and so much more! You can also try your hand (lettering) with this gorgeous set of 60 Brush Tip Pen by Tanmit. They come in a cute little container that would be perfect as a stocking stuffer and they would pair up perfectly with an Adult Coloring Book.

Adult Coloring Books are enjoyable, gorgeous, meditative books that feature gorgeous intricate designs. I have thoroughly enjoyed working through Millie Marotta's "Animal Kingdom" with my "treat yo self" set of Prisma Colors. (Am I the only one who has been obsessed with these since grade school?) I've also found that gel pens like this giant set of 120 Shuttle Art Gel Pens work wonderfully and can't wait to try them out on the adorable "Life of the Wild - Adult Coloring Book" by Karen Sue Chen.

Bust out the yarn because it's time to decide: are you Team Crochet? Team Knit? Team Weaver? There is only one way to find out, and I'm here to help you with lots of great tools and adorable kits.

First, we will start with crochet. My mom taught me how to crochet at a young age, and that's probably why it is and will always be my favorite. Crochet kits offer all sorts of super cute projects including these adorable Disney Princess, Marvel, and Peanuts kits. There is an entire line, and they are all super cute and sure to please the Disney fan in your life.

Next up is knitting! My mom taught herself how to knit, first starting out by creating hats on these neat knitting boards and then moving over to ye ol' knitting needles. She loved the speed of the projects, and I looooved the results.

Lastly, weaving! There seems to be a loom for everything: from pin looms to lap looms and over to this gorgeous Schacht Cricket Loom (drool), you can easily find the perfect loom to fit the size of your project, the size of your crafting space, or the size of your budget! (There are even more looms on the full list, too.)

Soap. Suds. Smell. Shine. These DIY kits are sure to clean up at Christmas. Homemade Health and Beauty products are not only an affordable way to pamper, they can also be very accommodating for folks who struggle with allergies, harsh scents/fragrances, dyes or chemicals. (Don’t forget to compare your recipient’s individual sensitivities/allergies to the ingredients used in the different kits when deciding which would be the best fit! I've included several variations.)

Soap Kits like this Deluxe DIY Cocoa Butter Kit by Grow and Make are a great way to get started creating your own custom skin care. The sky is the limit when using DIY Bath Bomb Kits like this one by DIY Gift Kits. They also make a Lip Balm Kit, or you could check out this Candle Kit, along with the many other DIY options that I also included—say it with me—on the full list. Added bonus: you may even get some kickbacks if these hobbies take off! (The minute glitter starts wandering into those bath bombs, though, I am suggesting a full intervention.)

Once again, I’m running out of space and I still have about 30 browser tabs open full of ideas. So we are going to wrap this up with the juiciest category yet... Craft Tech. All those awesome gadgets and gizmos that make even the biggest projects more manageable, and dare I say it? Fun! I have a serious weakness for craft tech, y’all.

First off, the Pico Projector. Perfect for the artist in your life who works in both tiny scale and big, this baby is small enough to sit in the palm of your hand, is super bright, has a fantastic picture. Bakers love this projector for taking their detailing game to the next level. Bonus Points: projectors are helpful for a variety of projects including murals, wood working, and just plain fun. Movie night under the stars? Um... don't mind if I do! Oh, by the way, this Pico is WiFi and Bluetooth friendly, so no additional cords needed! It even has its own touchpad and browser, but you may need to snag a little tripod (and power bank depending on how long your movie marathons usually last).

Now, let's talk about the sewing machine(s) upgrade! First, one of my favorite tools, the serger--if you don’t have one, you need to know: the ease and speed that a serger can add to your projects is amazing! It’s absolutely mandatory for sewing knits, and it can turn out blankets and all sorts of projects in just minutes flat. The only learning curve is threading that sucker, but that’s what YouTube tutorials and therapy are for. (Just kidding! It's not that bad.) I love both Janome and Brother sergers like this 1034DX.

Machine Embroidery brings a whole new level of detail and customization to your projects. And I'm happy to report that embroidery machines have come a long way from the days of using third party card readers and software that only worked when you were perfectly balanced on your head. What you are going to want to pay attention to is hoop size, design transfer (usb etc), and licensing. This Brother SE400 is a sewing machine / embroidery combo machine that comes with Disney designs and offers the basic 4 X 4 design size, whereas the Brother PE770 is a professional grade, embroidery only machine offering a whooping 136 stitches, much faster stitching, and--most importantly--a larger, more flexible 5 X 7 design area. You can bring your own designs to both of these machines as well as purchase additional Disney designs.

Next up: The Battle of the Cricut vs the Silhouette. I am grateful on at LEAST a monthly basis for my amazing Silhouette Cameo. This magic multi-craft machine has helped me DIY my way through 6 years of complete birthday party decorations, over a dozen batches of custom made invitations/cards, t-shirts, stickers, temporary tattoos, custom dish towels, felt projects, school decorations, art projects... I could go on and on (as I have proven by this ridiculously long post). Silhouette offers a variety of supplemental gadgets to help you take your cutting game to the next level including the Mint for making stamps and the Curio for etching, embosing, and cutting thicker materials. They even have a 3D printer.

Cricut, tired of sitting on the customization sidelines, seems to have really brought it with The Cricuit Air 2, but The Cricuit Maker is what really blew me out of the water. The number of materials it can cut with virtually no prep is amazing. No more backing your fabric and then fighting the machine to process it without destroying it. You can even cut wood! I haven’t tried these new Cricuits personally, but I will say they look NOTHING like your grandma’s Cricuit of yore—wait, am I the grandma in this comparison? Ugh.

Anyway, you will find a tremendous number of starter bundles available for either machine, and which one suits your fancy will depend entirely on what type of projects you want to start out with. Eventually, you’ll try all it’s features because that’s what crafting is all about. And then in true “if you give a mouse a cookie fashion,” you’ll be back to look at the aforementioned accessories, maybe a nice back-lit light pad, the Cricut Easy Press or maybe just go all in on my favorite affordable heat press, the PowerPress. Oh my, the slope, it’s a slippery one. But don’t worry, you’ll be landing on a bed of wool roving, next to a waterfall of heat transfer vinyl, listening to the melodic sounds of your multi machine cutting all your worries away.

Friends, you've made it to the end of this post! Pat yourself on the back on a job well done. I won't inundate you with any more gift ideas here, but don't forget to go over to my FULL Young Adults and Beyond Liston Amazon for even more gift ideas. I will continue to update it with new ideas as I come across them.

If you still find yourself thinking “yeah, but I could put together something better” then I fully encourage you to slap together your very own Crafting Kit! Make a list of everything you use to get the job done, and balance the kit out with some affordable supplies mixed with the brands you love. Sure, there’s tutorials online and videos aplenty, but nothing beats a good book full of tips, tricks, and beautiful pictures. I’ve included some of my favorites on my Books for Crafting and Creativity List, and you might just find one that makes the perfect finishing touch for your own DIY Kit Gift!

Links included above are affiliate links and may support DFWCS at no additional cost to you. DFWCS participates in the Amazon affiliate program, but DFWCS is in no way associated with Amazon or the items above. The opinions stated above are my own, and I have not received any sponsorship or free products from the aforementioned manufacturers.

"Candy Canes For Kids is a day filled with family fun including children's activities, free entertainment, a Holiday Market and much more. The event is the largest charity event in Collin County, benefitting Children's Advocacy Center of Collin County, and attracts 20,000+ people annually. "

November 17, 2018
10:00AM - 5:00PM

Fairview Town Center
329 Town Place
Fairview TX 75069

2nd Annual Holiday Bazaar
"Save the date and don't miss out on the 2nd annual, First Baptist Church Hebron, Craft Bazaar: Saturday, November 17, 2018. This is a great chance to purchase unusual Christmas gifts or treat yourself! Expect one-of-a-kind arts, crafts, creative retail, children's picture taken with book author, delicious baked sale items and numerous raffle opportunities. Please join us at First Baptist from 9 am - 3 pm to start your seasonal shopping. There will also by yummy food to purchase and historical tours of our Beautiful 100 Year Old Stained Glass Windows & Worship Center. See you there!"

ACA Arts & Craft Fair and More
"Arlington Classics Academy invites you to our 6th Annual ACA Arts & Craft Fair and More! Over 50 Vendors will be in attendance. Door Prize drawings every 30 minutes! Admission is just $1. Concessions will be available. Get all your holiday shopping done in one place."

"Two huge rooms of vendors with unique items in a family friendly atmosphere. Great items for Christmas gifts and all-occasion. Hot breakfast and lunch available for purchase. Raffles held throughout each day on vendor donations. Santa will be here, 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 1st."

For more information, contact their event coordinator at rosemarym@stcatherine.org / Rosemary 972-492-3237 ext.113.

Help spread the word, tell them DFW Craft Shows sent ya!
Looking for your own Event Listing? You can submit show information online here.

DFW Craft Shows is a free service provided to help unite our arts & crafts community. Due to the sheer number of event submissions, DFW Craft Shows is unable to verify all event information and encourages vendors to confirm information for their potential shows.

"Join us for our Annual Christmas Craft Fair at Dottie Lynn Recreation Center. It will be a festive time filled with shopping, goodies and more! Saturday, December 1 will include a performance from Arlington High School Show Choir and a special visit from Santa Claus. Admission is FREE."

Booths are 8 X 6 for $45. The booth includes 2 chairs, however you must pay for a table or bring your own. Also provided: food and drinks!

Applications are available here and are due by by November 16th, 2018.

For more information, visit their website or contact their event coordinator at madelyn.nelson@arlingtontx.gov /817-277-5001.

Help spread the word, tell them DFW Craft Shows sent ya!
Looking for your own Event Listing? You can submit show information online here.

DFW Craft Shows is a free service provided to help unite our arts & crafts community. Due to the sheer number of event submissions, DFW Craft Shows is unable to verify all event information and encourages vendors to confirm information for their potential shows.

"Arlington Classics Academy invites you to our 6th Annual ACA Arts & Craft Fair and More! Over 50 Vendors will be in attendance. Door Prize drawings every 30 minutes! Admission is just $1. Concessions will be available. Get all your holiday shopping done in one place."

For more information, visit their website or contact their event coordinator at lwestmoreland@acaedu.net / Suzanne at 817-371-8624.

Help spread the word, tell them DFW Craft Shows sent ya!
Looking for your own Event Listing? You can submit show information online here.

DFW Craft Shows is a free service provided to help unite our arts & crafts community. Due to the sheer number of event submissions, DFW Craft Shows is unable to verify all event information and encourages vendors to confirm information for their potential shows.